Karika 16

कारणमस्त्यव्यक्तं प्रवर्तते त्रिगुणतः समुदयाच्च।
परिणामतः सलिलवत् प्रतिप्रतिगुणाश्रयविशेषात्॥ १६॥

Translation by Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1837): There is a general cause, which is undiscrete. It operates by means of the three qualities, and by mixture, by modification, as water; for different objects are diversified by influence of the several qualities respectively.

Translation by John Davies (1881): (It is proved that) there is a primary cause, the Unmanifested (Avyakta), which acts (or develops itself) by the three modes; by blending and modification, like water, from the difference of the receptacle or seat of the modes as they are variously distributed.

Translation by Ganganath Jha (1896): The Unmanifested is the cause; it operates through the three Attributes by blending and by modification, as water, on account of the difference arising from the receptacle of the Attributes, as they are variously distributed.

Translation by Nandalal Sinha (1915): (please see Karika 15.)

Translation by Har Dutt Sharma (1933): The Unmanifest as the cause does exist. It functions through the three Attributes by combining and by modification, like water, due to the particular characteristics of the abode of each of the Attributes.

Translation by Radhanath Phukan (1960): Diversity of colour, taste, smell etc. arises from the three Guṇas acting in co-operation in various ways on various objects with which they come into contact; just as water gives rise to various tastes in various plants that absorb it.

Translation by Swami Virupakshananda (1995): (please see Karika 15.)

Translation by G. Srinivasan (recent): In an interactive process with a diminishing potential, the triple interactive state initiates a restful state of coherence or synchronised state and a transformation occurs; a distinctive change of state, like that of vapour condensing to liquid, takes place when the inward going force is brought to a very synchronised or coherent or merged (therefore static) state.